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Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

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Functional redundancy and food web functioning in linuron-exposed ecosystems.

F De Laender¹, P J Van den Brink, C R Janssen

¹Laboratory of Environmental Toxicity and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. frederik.delaender@ugent.be

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)

|June 7, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The herbicide linuron impacted sensitive algae but not the overall planktonic food web function in microcosms. Protecting macrophyte growth is key for ecosystem stability.

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Area of Science:

Ecotoxicology
Aquatic Ecology
Ecosystem Functioning

Background:

Herbicide linuron effects on aquatic ecosystems are not fully understood.
Macrophyte-dominated systems may exhibit resilience to chemical stressors.
Food web dynamics are critical for assessing ecosystem health.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the effects of linuron on macrophyte-dominated microcosms.
To assess the impact of linuron on ecosystem functioning using a food web model.
To determine if macrophyte protection ensures overall ecosystem stability.

Main Methods:

Analysis of an extensive dataset on linuron effects in microcosms.
Application of a food web model to simulate ecosystem responses.
Quantification of changes in phytoplankton, periphyton, and heterotroph diets.
Measurement of gross primary production and dissolved organic carbon uptake.

Main Results:

Linuron caused a shift from sensitive to tolerant phytoplankton species.
Heterotrophs maintained functions due to dietary redundancy.
Gross primary production decreased significantly, but dissolved organic carbon uptake was less affected.
Food web efficiency did not consistently decrease in treated microcosms.

Conclusions:

Linuron primarily affected macrophytes, not the planktonic food web's overall function.
Phytoplankton redundancy supports ecosystem resilience.
Risk assessment for macrophyte growth adequately protects these microcosms.